Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy
(varicose vein treatment).
One of the most common problems that women face comes in the
form of 'spider veins' (clusters of blue, purple or red veins
which usually appear on the ankles, calves and thighs). These
veins lie close to the surface of the skin and the appearance
of 'spider veins' can be due to hormonal changes, heredity,
pregnancy, significant weight changes or activities which
require standing or sitting for very long periods of time.

Another similar type of veins which
appear are the varicose veins; these are slightly larger that
the 'spider veins', are darker in color and have a tendency
to bulge. This type of vein is more likely to cause some sort
of pain and may be related to more serious circulatory disorders.

If you are self conscious about the
way your legs look, then a sclerotherapy treatment with Dr.
Camacho in Costa Rica may be the solution for you. By removing
the 'spider' and varicose veins, your legs will regain a more
youthful appearance, enhancing your self-confidence and the
way you relate to others.

The
best candidates for this treatment usually fall in the age
range of 30 to 60. However, these types of veins can become
visible in women very early in their lives, such as in their
teenage years. 'Spider veins' aren't as common in men as in
women, but they sometimes do happen; keep in mind that sclerotherapy
has the same level of effectiveness in both genders.

During
your initial discussion, Dr. Camacho will most likely mark
the affected areas of your legs and will examine you to see
if you suffer from more serious circulatory problems. If this
is the case, Dr. Camacho will need to address these problems
first before a sclerotherapy treatment can be performed.

Also,
you will need to inform the doctor of any allergies you might
be prone to or if you have any serious medical conditions.
Make sure to ask Dr. Camacho concerning the diverse details
that the treatment entails. For example, you should know if
you should stop taking certain medications (eg: aspirin) or
if you will need to refrain from drinking or eating for a
certain time period before getting your treatment.

Sclerotherapy sessions usually don't
take very long and it is recommended that you wear shorts
during the session to increase your comfort. Dr. Camacho will
cleanse your legs with an antiseptic solution and may take
photographs to keep track of your progress in your medical
records.

While you lie down on the examination
table, Dr. Camacho will stretch the skin of your leg with
one hand and will then inject the sclerosing solution into
the veins. What this substance does is irritate the veins
and cause a thrombus (blood clot); this eventually heals and
produces scar tissue, which blocks the vein. By using a bright,
indirect light and magnification, your Dr. Camacho ensures
the highest level of precision when injecting your veins while
completing the process.

Roughly, one injection is given for
every inch of spider/varicose vein (from 5 to 40 injections
per session, depending on the patient's needs). Once an area
of the leg is finished, a cotton ball and compression tape
are put in place.

During the process, you might feel
a mild numbing sensation or the sensation of ‘pins and
needles’. Keep in mind that the pain is minimal during
the sessions, since the sclerosing agent and needles are extremely
thin.

Once
the doctor is finished, he will sometimes apply a tight-fitting
support hose to protect against possible deep vein blood clots
(to accelerate the healing process) which you may need to
wear during the next 72 hours. The tape and cotton balls can
be removed 48 hours later.

After
the procedure, you can expect a certain degree of swelling
and bruising in the areas which have been injected. This persists
for the initial 14 days but will usually subside after that.
You might also experience some skin staining but this is a
temporary condition.

The full effects of the Sclerotherapy
treatment will be able to be seen after several weeks and
you will find a significant improvement in the appearance
of your legs. For this reason, Dr. Camacho recommends waiting
a few weeks before submitting yourself to another sclerotherapy
session.

Walking helps to decrease the side
effects of the injections, therefore it is recommended that
you exercise moderately for a minimum of once a day (in 20
minute sessions) during the period you are required to wear
your compression hose. This helps to decrease the pressure
in the superficial veins. You should refrain from taking hot
baths during the first week after treatment, since heat dilates
veins and can neutralize the effect of the sclerosing agent.

You
can return to normal activity right away, but we recommend
that you do not partake in any type of vigorous exercise,
such as gym work or jogging. Also, sitting and standing for
long periods of time should be avoided too, as should squatting
and heavy weight lifting.

In very rare cases after a sclerotherapy
treatment, a patient may experience:

Severe inflammation.

Bleeding – if this occurs,
it will require immediate attention.

Deep vein blood clotting.

Ulceration of skin.

Telangiectic matting (appearance
of reddish blood vessels) – may need further injections
to be treated.

Allergic reactions to the sclerosing
agent.

Pigmentation irregularity (brown
splotches on skin) – these usually disappear over
time.

Make
sure to ask Dr. Camacho concerning any risks you might have
to face when undertaking this procedure. In order to keep
the risks at a bare minimum, please make sure that you follow
the doctor’s instructions at all times.

The
information given in this website should be considered as
an introduction to sclerothepary. Before deciding on submitting
yourself to the procedure described above, we highly recommend
you contact us directly, so we can answer any specific question
you might have.